Unit 8 - Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution

Question 1

What is eutrophication?

Answer 1

Runoff from sewage and agriculture increases minerals in water that cause algae blooms
The blooms deprive the water of oxygen and it is harmful to aquatic life

Question 2

What are the two pollutants released by a landfill, and how are they treated?

Answer 2

leachate: taken to waste treatment plant
methane: used as fuel

Question 3

What are the three Rs and how much energy do each take?

Answer 3

Reduce - requires least energy
Reuse
Recycle - required most energy

Question 4

What is the sewage treatment process?

Answer 4

1. large and solid debris are filtered by screens
2. coagulating (clumping) agents are added
3. solid waste (sludge) settles to the bottom
4. pathogens are chemically treated
5. more treatment to remove micro-pollutants (pesticides)
6. disinfected water is released into nearby water sources
7. filter
8. coagulate
9. solid waste settles
10. pathogens are treated
11. more pathogen treatment
12. disinfected water released

Question 5

What is a point source pollutant?

Answer 5

Contaminants that enter the environment from an easily identifiable source

Question 6

What is a non-point source pollutant?

Answer 6

Contaminants that DO NOT enter the environment from an easily identifiable source

Question 7

What is bioaccumulation?

Answer 7

1 organism: the buildup of a harmful substance in the body of an organism

Question 8

What is biomagnification?

Answer 8

Toxins becoming more concentrated as they move up the food chain

Question 9

Turbidity: Source and Impact?

Answer 9

definition:
amount of sediment in the water

sources:
construction, bare ground, plowed fields

impact:
- reduces infiltration of sunlight -> less photosynthesis
- clogs gills

Question 10

Thermal Pollution: Source and Impact

Answer 10

definition:
the sudden change of water temperature

sources:
- the removal of cold water or dumping of warm water
- electric power plants
- steel and paper mills

impact:
- thermal shock: change in temp. kills organisms
- warm water does not contain as much dissolved oxygen (suffocation)

Question 11

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): Source and Impact?

Answer 11

definition:
carbon based molecules that break down slowly

sources:
pesticides and industry chemicals

impact:
- bioaccumulates and biomagnifies
- grasshopper effect (travels far through wind and water)
- endocrine disruptors

Question 12

Eutrophication: Source and Impact

Answer 12

definition:
the release of nitrogen and phosphorus into waterways

sources:
wastewater, fertilizer, runoff

impact:
- causes rapid algae growth
- decreased oxygen levels: dead zones

Question 13

Endocrine Disruptors: Source and Impact?

Answer 13

definition:
chemicals that interfere with the endocrine system/hormones

sources:
- animal facilities
- birth control pills
- pesticides

impact:
- bioaccumulates
- biomagnifies
- harms hormones and development of fish, reptiles, and amphibians

Question 14

Heavy Metals: Source and Impact?

Answer 14

sources - mercury:
- burning of coal
- cement industry

impact:
- bioaccumulates
- biomagnifies
- converts to methylmercury: highly toxic and damages nervous system and embryos of wildlife

Question 15

SARS: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?

Answer 15

• type of pneumonia
• transferred by touching/inhaling affected fluids
• type of coronavirus
• flu symptoms
• sanitation and hygiene
• hand washing, disinfection
• started in China and spread
• came from animals or labs
• no treatment

Question 16

MERS: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?

Answer 16

• camel -> person -> person
• viral respiratory illness
• type of coronavirus
• respiratory issues
• pneumonia
• cough and fever
• don’t associate with camels
• spread out more
• Arabian Peninsula
• no treatment, only symptom relief

Question 17

Zika: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?

Answer 17

• mosquito -> human
• mosquito -> monkey -> human
• human to human from blood transfusions and sex
• mostly symptomless
• tiny headed babies
  Same as Malaria and West Nile
• Latin America, Africa, Asia
• no treatment

Question 18

Plague: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?

Answer 18

• fleas on rats, mice, squirrels, rabbits
• bite or contact from infected organisms -> humans
• bubonic plague (black death)
• swollen lymph nodes
• prevented by sanitation and pest control
• killed millions in the middle-ages
• cases still in Africa and Asia
• treatment: antibiotics

Question 19

Malaria: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?

Answer 19

• parasites in mosquitos -> humans
• transferred by blood transfusions, organ transplants, needles, or birth
• fever, chills, nausea, etc.
• (if bad) liver failure, seizures, death,
  Same as West Nile
• controlling mosquito populations
• prefers warmth, humidity, and rainfall
• global warming makes it worse
• high humidity areas
  Sub-Saharan Africa
• treatments: antiparasitic drugs/medications

Question 20

West Nile: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?

Answer 20

• bird -> mosquito -> human
• fever, weakness, fatigue
• if bad: coma, seizure, paralysis
  same as malaria
• controlling mosquito populations
• prefers warmth, humidity, and rainfall
• global warming makes it worse
• worldwide
• no treatment

Question 21

Mesothelioma: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?

Answer 21

• Caused by exposure to asbestos
• Lung cancer
• prevented by reducing exposure
• Affects working class and people using asbestos products
• Treatment: cancer treatments

Question 22

Tuberculosis: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?

Answer 22

• bacteria in lungs
• spreads by coughing, talking
• bacteria starts in lungs and travels to kidneys, spine, and brain
• bad cough (bloody)
• sanitization prevents it
• overcrowding is bad
• more common in countries with malaria and HIV
• treatment: antibiotics to slow it

Question 23

Cholera: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?

Answer 23

• bacteria in water to person
• bacteria -> shellfish -> human
• spreads in places without sewage treatment
• diarrhea
• blue skin
• dehydration
• kills within hours
  Same as Dysentery
• in places with bad sanitation x hygiene
• prevention: waste treatment
• climate change causes it to spread faster
• Africa, Asia, Haiti
• Treatment: fluids, electrolytes, antibiotics

Question 24

Dysentery: Transmission, Symptoms, Pollution, Impacted Groups?

Answer 24

• untreated sewage carrying parasites, amoebas, and/or worms
• can be sexually transmitted
• passed when person does not wash hands and touches people/food
• destroys intestinal lining
• bloody diarrhea
• painful; stomach cramps, etc.
  Same as Cholera
• in places with bad sanitation x hygiene
• prevention: waste treatment
• climate change causes it to spread faster

-in countries lacking sewage treatment
- South America, SE Asia, Africa
- treatments: fluids, antibiotics, electrolytes, antiparasitic drugs

Question 25

How do you find lethal dosage (LD50) on a graph?

Answer 25

50% dead mark = lethal dosage

Question 26

How do you find threshold of toxicity on a graph?

Answer 26

whenever the graph shows a noticeable effect of the drug

Question 27

What are the two types of septic systems?

Answer 27

Septic tank - scum, septage, and sludge layers
Leech field - filtered waste is transported to be deposited in soil

Question 28

What is the difference between closed and open loop recycling?

Answer 28

closed: goods are recycled back into itself or a similar product (more sustainable, minimal degradation)

open: goods are recycled into same or completely different product (less sustainable, more degradation)